The idea is to tranform the disused railway, between Shrewsbury and Telford with a cycle route.
The Severn Valley railway was constructed between 1858 & 1862 and was absorbed into the Great Western railway in 1863. It wasn’t particularly profitable and so was closed. The last passenger train ran on 9th September 1963. This disused railway is still there today in the form of farm tracks or wild areas. It could be easily transformed into a cycle path connecting Shrewsbury and Telford with a traffic free route perfect for walkers, cyclists, and horse riders. Below is a map of the route and the key points along it’s length.
2. Cross a small housing estate, the A5 and a small industrial complex.
3. Provides a commuter link for the new housing development at Cross Houses.
4. Small section of former railway is now the gardens of a house.
5. Bridge will need to be reinstated over the A458 near Cound.
6. Small section of the former railway has been absorbed into an agricultural field.
7. Small section of the former railway has been absorbed into the beer garden of The Riverside Inn.
8. Larger section of the former railway lost to residential properties at Cressage.
9. Goes directly passed Buildwas Abbey.
10. Reaches the former Iron bridge power station, which is set for development into residential properties.
11. Connects with the nation cycle network, route 45, at Ironbridge.
1. Joins the current cycle path, off the B4380 Oteley Road, which runs right the way through the Rea Brook Valley local nature reserve.
2. The first challenge for this cycle path is here, where it needs to cross a small housing estate, the A5 and a small industrial complex.
The simple solution is to add a cycle path to the A458 to bypass this area.
3. There is a new housing development at Cross Houses between the A458 and former Severn Valley railway. This new cycle path would create an excellent commuter link to Shrewsbury. Travel time approximately 30 minutes.
4. A small section of the former railway near Cross Houses has been absorbed into the gardens of the residential property.
A small diversion of the cycle path will be required here.
5. The former railway crossed the A458 near Cound. The bridge has since been demolished and a new one would have to be constructed for the cycle path.
Alternatively a ground level road crossing could be used.
6. This small section of former railway has been completely removed and incorporated into an agricultural field.
To get passed this obstacle the cycle path could be diverted to run parallel with the A458.
7. This small section of the former railway now forms part of the beer garden for The Riverside Inn. http://www.theriversideinn.net/
One option is for the cycle path join the A458 at this point. Alternatively the owners may be happy for it to run through the beer garden generating a convenient pit stop for thirsty cyclists.
8. A larger section of the former railway line has been absorbed in to the residential properties in the village of Cressage.
The cycle path here would have to join the B4380 and onto the Sheinton Rd before rejoining the railway line shortly after the sewage treatment works.
9. A unique part of this cycle path will be here where the route goes directly passed Buildwas Abbey. https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/buildwas-abbey/
10. At this point the cycle path reaches the new housing development at the former site of the Ironbridge power station. The cycle path would be a fantastic addition to this development creating an excellent commuter link to Telford. Travel time approximately 40 minutes. https://ironbridgeregeneration.co.uk/
11. After reaching Ironbridge it will be a short cycle to join the National Cycle Network, route 45 and further along to route 55. This will provide the onward travel to Telford. https://www.sustrans.org.uk/map-ncn
Hopefully this project can be supported by:
- Shropshire council
- Telford and Wrekin council
- Sustrans
- Railway Paths Ltd.
- The Riverside Inn
- Harworth Group PLC
- Local land owners.
Severn Valley Cycle Path 